If you own a pickup truck, cargo van, or box truck, you have a genuine money-making asset sitting in your driveway. The opportunities range from same-day gig work that pays by the hour to full-blown hauling businesses that can replace a salary. Which path fits you depends on your truck size, how much time you want to invest, and whether you’re looking for side income or a primary livelihood.
Delivery and Moving Apps
The fastest way to start earning is through on-demand platforms that connect truck owners with people who need things moved. GoShare is one of the largest. Pickup truck drivers on the platform average up to $70 per hour, cargo van drivers up to $105 per hour, and box truck drivers up to $168 per hour, plus 100% of tips. Those figures come from GoShare’s own driver data collected during 2022 and 2023, so your actual pay will depend on your market and how often jobs come in. To qualify, you need to be at least 18 and own or lease a vehicle with a model year of 2001 or newer.
Similar platforms like Dolly and Bungii work on the same model: customers book help moving furniture, appliances, or store purchases, and you show up with your truck. Most of these apps let you set your own schedule and accept only the jobs you want. The trade-off is inconsistency. You might have a $200 afternoon followed by two days of silence. Treating these apps as one income stream among several tends to work better than relying on any single platform.
Junk Removal
Starting a junk removal service requires little more than your truck, some basic tools, and a willingness to do physical work. You pick up unwanted furniture, appliances, yard debris, and construction waste for homeowners, landlords, and property managers. Most operators charge by the truckload or by volume (quarter load, half load, full load), with a single full-load job typically bringing in $200 to $600 depending on the material and your local market.
Startup costs are low. You need heavy-duty gloves, a few tarps, ratchet straps, and possibly a trailer if your truck bed is small. The real expense is dump fees, which vary by location and waste type. Factor those into every quote so you’re not eating into your profit. Advertising on local marketplaces, neighborhood apps, and with simple yard signs near busy intersections can fill your schedule surprisingly fast, especially during spring cleaning season and after storms.
Hot Shot Trucking
Hot shot trucking means hauling time-sensitive or smaller freight loads using a heavy-duty pickup (typically a one-ton dually) and a flatbed trailer instead of a full semi. Common loads include construction equipment, oilfield parts, farm machinery, and auto parts. Rates vary widely by lane and cargo type, but experienced hot shot drivers often gross $1,000 to $3,000 per load on longer runs.
The regulatory requirements are real. You need a DOT number, which the U.S. Department of Transportation uses to track your safety record and inspections. If you’re hauling across state lines, you also need an MC number from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, which grants you operating authority for interstate commerce. A commercial driver’s license is required for operating a commercial motor vehicle, and you’ll need to pass a physical examination to receive a DOT medical card. You’ll also need to secure cargo liability insurance and file a BOC-3 process agent designation.
The upfront investment is significant. Beyond the truck itself, a quality flatbed trailer runs $8,000 to $20,000 used, and you’ll need chains, binders, straps, and tarps rated for the loads you’re hauling. But hot shot trucking has real earning potential for someone willing to handle the paperwork and spend time on the road.
Snow Removal and Seasonal Services
If you live where it snows, a plow-equipped truck can generate strong seasonal income. Residential snow removal contracts typically run $180 to $320 per month per customer, while commercial contracts for parking lots and business properties range from $800 to $1,500 per month. Even a handful of commercial accounts can produce meaningful winter revenue.
A truck-mounted plow and a salt spreader are your essential equipment. A new plow setup for a pickup runs $4,000 to $8,000 installed, and a tailgate spreader adds another $1,500 to $3,000. You can reduce costs by buying used. The key to making this work financially is lining up contracts before the season starts, not waiting for the first storm and scrambling for one-off jobs. Many property managers and HOAs sign seasonal contracts in early fall.
Outside of winter, the same truck can pivot to landscaping hauling (mulch, gravel, sod delivery), towing, or hauling equipment for contractors who need extra capacity during busy months.
Hauling and Towing for Hire
Local hauling covers a wide range of work: delivering building materials from lumber yards, moving gravel or topsoil for homeowners, transporting equipment between job sites, or running supply loads for small businesses that don’t own their own trucks. Posting your availability on Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, or local business groups can generate steady calls. Many contractors, landscapers, and farmers need occasional truck capacity but can’t justify owning another vehicle.
If your truck has proper towing capacity, roadside assistance towing and vehicle transport are another option. Signing up as a provider with motor clubs or towing dispatch networks puts you into a rotation for local calls. Vehicle transport, where you haul cars on a trailer for dealerships, auction houses, or private sellers, is a step up that requires a car hauler trailer but pays well per trip.
Renting Out Your Truck
If you’d rather earn money without doing the driving yourself, peer-to-peer vehicle sharing platforms let you list your truck for other people to rent. Turo is the best-known platform for passenger vehicles and pickups. For commercial vehicles, COOP by Ryder lets fleet owners rent idle trucks to vetted businesses. Ryder reports that a 26-foot box truck traveling 100 miles per day can generate up to $3,300 per month on the platform, with the average active owner earning more than $10,600 per year.
The upside is passive income. The downside is wear and tear you don’t control, plus the risk of damage. Read the insurance and liability terms of any platform carefully before listing your vehicle. Most platforms offer some level of protection, but it rarely covers everything.
What It Actually Costs to Operate
Before you count your earnings, subtract the real costs of running your truck commercially. The biggest ongoing expense is insurance. Commercial truck insurance averages $421 per month (about $5,050 per year) for $1 million in liability coverage. Your actual rate depends on your vehicle type, your driving record, and where you operate. A basic box truck policy averages around $388 per month, while a flatbed averages $569 per month. State minimum liability coverage starts lower, around $149 per month, but many clients and platforms require higher limits.
Beyond insurance, budget for fuel (your largest variable cost), tires, oil changes, brake pads, and the occasional unexpected repair. Commercial use accelerates every maintenance interval. A good rule of thumb is setting aside 10 to 15 cents per mile for maintenance reserves on top of your fuel costs. You’ll also want to track mileage carefully for tax deductions, since the IRS standard mileage rate or actual expense method can significantly reduce your taxable income.
Finally, remember that income from any of these activities is self-employment income. You’ll owe both income tax and self-employment tax (which covers Social Security and Medicare) on your net profit. Setting aside 25 to 30 percent of your earnings for taxes keeps you from getting surprised at filing time. Keeping clean records of every expense, from fuel receipts to insurance premiums to phone bills, will lower your tax burden.
Picking the Right Path
Your best option depends on what you’re working with. A half-ton pickup with a 5-foot bed limits you to delivery apps, light junk removal, and small local hauls. A three-quarter-ton or one-ton truck with a full-size bed opens up hot shot trucking, snow plowing, and heavier hauling work. A cargo van or box truck unlocks the highest-paying delivery app tiers and commercial moving jobs.
If you want flexibility and fast cash, start with delivery apps and local hauling while you build a client base for a more specialized service. If you want to build a real business, pick one niche (junk removal, hot shot trucking, snow removal) and focus your marketing and equipment investment there. Trying to do everything at once usually means doing nothing particularly well. The truck owners who earn the most tend to specialize in one or two services and build a reputation that generates repeat business and referrals.